French operations in Artois , Champagne and Alsace from November–December 1914 , led General Joseph Joffre , Generalissimo ( Commander in Chief ) and head of Grand Quartier Général ( GQG ) , to continue the offensive in Champagne against the German southern rail supply route and to plan an offensive in Artois , against the lines supplying the German armies from the north .

The failure to break through , despite the expenditure of and the suffering of led to recriminations against Joffre ; the German 6th Army suffered Bodily_harm A lull followed until the Second Battle of Champagne , the Third Battle of Artois and the Battle of Loos in September .

Severe criticism Judgment_communication of General Sir Douglas Haig and General Henry Rawlinson during and since the war Military_operation for persisting with attacks Attack on October , was challenged in 2009 by William Philpott , who put Placing the British share of the battle into the context of strategic subordination to French wishes , the concept of a general Allied offensive Attack established Creating by Joffre and the continuation of French attacks Attack south of Le Transloy , which had to be supported Supporting by British operations .